Sunrise’s ‘dole bludger’ debate gets backlash

Channel 7’s morning show has been slammed over its treatment of the Newstart debate thanks to a “badly phrased” segment.

Channel 7’s Sunrise program copped a hammering on Wednesday over its treatment of the Newstart debate, thanks to a “badly phrased” segment.

Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr introduced the segment by saying: “New figures have been released showing just how many dole bludgers are trying to take advantage of the welfare system.”

“An alarming number of people on Newstart are being penalised.”

Her use of the term “blud­gers’’ sparked an immediate backlash.

ABC news presenter Juanita Phillips was among the vocal critics, tweeting: “These days I often find myself asking ‘Is this really who we’ve ­become?’ Then I read something like the @sunriseon7 tweet and realise: yes. Yes it is.”

ABC news presenter Juanita Phillips.

Comedian and Triple M presenter Wil Anderson described it as “utter bullshit gutter journalism”.

Others suggested Sunrise was the most “toxic” and “divisive” TV programs on air.

Barr later said the show had “made a mistake” and the segment was “badly phrased”.

The figures in question, released by the government, show almost 80 per cent of Newstart recipients have had their payments suspended at least once over the past year.

The government has been accused of targeting “dole bludgers” in an effort to resist growing pressure to increase Newstart.

Originally published as Sunrise’s ‘dole bludger’ debate gets backlash